Chapter 2: Bittersweet Victory
Wolfram then clashed sword with the attacker and was almost winning. And then as he charged to the opponent, he accidentally tripped unto a rock and fell down. The opponent took this chance and was charging to Wolfram…
"WOLFRAM! NO!!!!!!"
"Yuuri…"
--
"WOLFRAM! NO!!!!!!!" It was the urge of the heart, he had to do it, even it means risking his own life; he was bound do it.
'Nothing matters now…'
Everything was moving in slow motion…
It was blood, his blood that he was seeing…He never thought that he had that much blood flowing through his veins. Judging from the amount of blood that fell on the ground, Yuuri knows that he won't be seeing Blood Pledged Castle ever again.
It was numb; he didn't even feel anything painful from that wound on his chest that he took for Wolfram. All he felt was nothing but...fear…confusion…and sadness…but yet there was a little shred of hope left in his heart that urges him to fight for Shin Makoku, for everyone…
"Yuuri…"
That moment, when he saw Wolfram's reaction, he knew what he had to do.
'Well, if this is really it, then I might as well give my everything…'
Yuuri then pierced his sword, Morgif unto the ground to break his fall. He then stood up and pointed the demon sword towards the opponent, and then he whispered to his companion in combat, "Morgif, lend me your power. Give me your best shot, just for the last time…"
And then the sword started roaring, as if assuring Yuuri that he won't disappoint him. Then a bright white light came out from the swords mouth. Yuuri then held firmly and raised it up.
"Demon Sword Morgif, obey your true master! Lend me your ceaseless powers! Destroy the wicked who tends to bring chaos your homeland!" Yuuri then let go of the sword and it rose up upon the dark skies.
It emanated a bright and blinding light that hovered over everyone participating in that battle. There was nothing but light to see… nothing more…
--
Then after sometime, the bright light started to fade and it revealed to them dead bodies, and not just dead bodies, dead bodies of Big Shimaron soldiers! If not dead some are in coma, there was not a single one in Big Shimaron's army who was left unconscious. Everyone was amazed, no astonished by what that little sword was capable of doing that flabbergasting phenomena.
And then the Demon Sword started to descend down. Yuuri caught it by the hand. "Good work, Morgif. Thank you…"
"Free cheers for his majesty and Morgif! Hip, hip, Hurray!!! Hip, hip, hurray!!!" one soldier cheered, and the rest followed. Yuuri smiled at this.
"Yuuri, we won, that's all because of you…" Wolfram said with relieved smile.
"Not really, we did it with Morgif's help!" Yuuri replied with a weak smile.
"Yuuri, what's-" Wolfram was too overjoyed that he almost forgot about Yuuri's injury.
Then the maou suddenly winced with pain as he collapsed on Wolfram.
"Yuuri! Yuuri! Yuuri, no! Please Yuuri…not now… it's going to be okay…We've won! Everything's going to be fine now! Please Yuuri, not now…" Wolfram shook Yuuri but there was no response. Conrad and the others heard Wolfram and they hurried down to where the two was.
"Wolfram, what-" Conrad was ceased by how much blood Yuuri had on his shirt.
Yuuri then raised his hand full of blood and stared at it. His sight was getting blurry. "Everything's going to be fine now…Now I can leave Shin Makoku peacefully on your hands…"
"Don't say that Yuuri!" Wolfram refused.
"Oh come on...let's not pretend that life's a fairytale… You know what, Wolfram, I'm scared...I'm scared to die, but yet I can't do anything to stop my blood from flowing…If only I could stop time but I can't, so…" Tears started to flow down Yuuri's cheeks.
"Yuuri, please…" And then Wolfram started to cry.
"So you need to promise me something… Promise me that after this day, you will never cry for me again…" Yuuri then held Wolfram's hand firmly, as if his never going to let go.
"Yuuri…"
"Wol-fram…" Yuuri then started to cough with blood.
"Your majesty, hold on a little longer. Gunter is now calling for Gisela. They'll be here right away." Conrad said, holding Yuuri's other hand.
"Thank you, Conrad, for everything, thanks for the name and the love. You were like an older brother to me. And to you too Gwendal, even though it's only a once in a lifetime opportunity that you smile back at me, you are still a huge part of my life. And where's Gunter?" Yuuri asked.
"I'm here heika, but please avoid movements…" Gunter said, approaching Yuuri as he stopped his tears from falling.
"Thanks a lot, Gunter; I wouldn't be the king I am now if not because of you. And as for Yozak, avoid wearing those, Ms. Biceps outfit; it doesn't suit you that well. And as for Adalbert, you are always welcome in Shin Makoku whenever you're ready to turn back, even though I'm gone…" Yuuri smiled again.
"Yuuri, don't be such a wimp!" Wolfram shouted at Yuuri.
"I'm not deaf, you know… Wolfram… Just relax; being impulsive won't get you anywhere. And try to control that temper of yours…But you know what, I've always liked the way you are. You never fail to convince me that you are worth it all… Thank you, for always knocking in some sense into me. And catching a wimp like me, whenever I fall….I'm so sorry, Wolfram….I don't think I'll be around for our wedding anymore,sobs… but remember this…coughs…. I will always be with you, be-cause I, - I-"Then Yuuri coughed even harder.
"Yuuri please, don't…" Wolfram said as he sobbed.
Yuuri just smiled. He then caressed Wolfram's face with his bloody hands and wiped away the blond's tears. "I'm so sorry, Wolfram…I-, I- lo-………." Then one last tear escaped from Yuuri eyes as he closed, it permanently. His hold unto Wolfram's hand loosened.
"Yuuri. Yuuri, no!!" And now there's no more stopping it, Wolfram started to cry.
"Your majesty, it can't be! Your majesty! Heika! Heika!" Gunter cried.
"Yuuri-heika, are you really this much of a weakling?" Gwendal tried to hide his true emotions through his cold voice, but he can't. He then genuflected and bowed his head to his king.
"Yuuri…" Conrad crunched his fingers into fists. "Why now? Yuuri…"
"Kiddo…I never knew that you were the heroic type of king…" Yozak tried to joke but it was no use. He then tapped Conrad's shoulders.
Then every soldier in the battle field started to bowing, some even cried, but that won't do anything to bring back their king…
--
They then placed Yuuri's lifeless body into a stretcher and into the carriage to be brought home to Shin Makoku. It was Conrad and Yozak who did it. Well, they were the only ones who could hold back their emotions once they touch Yuuri.
--
Before the victorious soldiers even got back to Shin Makoku, the news of victory had already got there. Everyone rejoiced, without knowing of the price in exchange of that victory. Every citizens of Shin Makoku gathered in front of Blood Pledged Castle to welcome back, their king, their savior…
As the carriage stopped in front of the castle, it was Greta who first ran to the carriage and opened the door.
"You're back! I missed you all!!" She smiled at them. "Wait, where's Yuuri? I've been waiting for him to show him this knew panda bear I knitted! Where is he? Is he in the other carriage?" She asked innocently. The little princess then ran unto the next carriage, she opened the door and was shocked to see a stretcher with body covered inside.
"Conrad, Yozak, where's Yuuri? And what's this?" She asked them but there was no response.
"Excuse me, princess." Yozak said. Greta then made a few steps back to give way.
And then the two made their way with the stretcher, out of the horse and carriage.
"What had happened? Who is this?" asked Lady Celli. But Conrad just looked away and didn't answer to his mother.
Lady Celli then, bit her lip as she slowly removed the white cloth above the body. As she saw the person who was lying dead in the stretcher, she started to cry. "King Yuuri! Why did this happen?"
Everyone was surprised, or should I say, terrified by the news. "His majesty has died! What will happen to us now?!" one shouted.
"Yuuri? Is Yuuri really dead?" the princess started sobbing.
"I'm so sorry Greta…" Wolfram embraced Greta. It was the only thing he could do now, to make their daughter feel that she is not alone.
--
And now the moment has come. It was the last day of Yuuri's funeral.
'Wow, I never knew that there would be this much people when I die. Hey, that's Shori! And there's mom and dad and, hey it's Murata! And all of Shin Makoku is here too! Hey, wait a minute, how did my family get here? Well, that doesn't matter now, does it?'
'Hmm… Wow, staring at my own dead body is pretty weird… And wow, I didn't know that I look nice in a glass coffin… And I know I've always dreamed of lying in a bed roses but right now, I'm seeing myself lying in a bed of lilies, casket of lilies, actually… And what's with the black outfit again? I've always worn that since the day I first arrived in Shin Makoku. sigh Oh come on! What am I doing holding Morgif even after my death come on, people! Are they seriously going to bury me with Morgif? But hey, I look very kingly holding Morgif that way. And I never knew I looked this peaceful when I'm asleep… but I'm not asleep, I'm a dead man with my body displayed outside my castle for everyone to see me for the last time…'
Then people close to him started falling in line and each one of them get' to give him their final message, in their minds of course.
It was Greta who went first followed by, Yozak, Adalbert, Lord Stoffel, Raven, Lady Flurin, Alford, Lady Celli, Annisuna, Gisela, Elizabeth, Geigenhuber and his family, Gunter, Gwendal, Great Sage Murata, Ulrike whose first time it was to get out of the Shinou temple for 800 years, Yuuri's mother Miko Shibuya, his father Shoma, his brother Shori, Conrad, and last was Wolfram.
"Yuuri, why did you leave me and Wolfram?" was what Greta said.
"Hey kiddo, I hope you're in some place good now…enjoy your after life…" was Yozak's last words.
"Heika, I never even got the chance to get close to you, but I guess this is goodbye…King Yuuri." said Lord Stoffel as he his fingers trailed through Yuuri's coffin.
"Your majesty, please forgive my master for everything that he has done wrong against you…" said Raven.
"Oh King Yuuri, I know you're in a better place now, don't worry, I will do my best to keep the alliance between Caloria and Shin Makoku as strong as ever…" Lady Flurin cried.
"Why did you die this soon, demon king? We didn't even have the chance for our rematch between my Holy Sword and your Demon Sword. What's worse is that you even took Morgif with you to the grave, literally…but may be someday, when I get to where you are now, we can have our rematch, but for now, I guess its goodbye…" Alford said.
"Oh your majesty…You are a really great king. Even after what had happened to Shin Makoku after my reign, you were able to full Shin Makoku up to its former glory, even greater. Your death has hurt my son very deeply, King Yuuri, what to do now?" Lady Celli asked.
"Oh heika, I didn't get to do an experiment with you. It was such a waste; you had so much maryoku in you…" Annisuna said.
"Heika, I thought you would never leave onii-chan's side but what are you doing in that glass coffin now?" Elizabeth said as she dropped a red rose on the glass coffin.
"Your majesty, if it wasn't for you, none of this would have happened… I wouldn't be together with my wife and daughter now…Thank you…" Geigenhuber smiled the, technically we can call him corpse right?
"Heika, heika, heika…I'm going to miss you heika, how are we going to live our lives with out you, Yuuri-heika!!! Oh heika…" Gunter cried.
"Leaving Shin Makoku this soon? That's pathetic…But you've done your share, actually, you've done more than that, King Yuuri. You've shone us light when we were living in darkness… Don't worry; Shin Makoku will be in good hands…" Gwendal whispered.
"Shibuya, I don't know if Shinou orchestrated this or not, but I'm sure that everything will be alright…as long as I am here Shin Makoku is safe. But it would have been better if you were here…You know what, you changed my mind… Shin Makoku, does need two suns, the other is the substitute to the other one…Nah...That would be really stupid…" The Great Sage said with a false chuckle.
"Oh your majesty, I'm so happy to bet out of the Shinou temple again, but it hurts to see you in that glass coffin. I would prefer to get out of the temple because of another reason, not like this. Yuuri-heika, may Shinou-heika guide you in your path to the next life…" Ulrike offered a prayer.
"Yuu-chan… I feel so terrible… I wasn't even around with you at your final moments…I should have been there to sing you lullaby… I should have been with you…" Miko cried.
"Why this soon, Yuu-chan? I never thought that I'd never thought that this day would ever come, the day when I get to see you inside your coffin. I've always thought that I would die sooner than you will, but look at the situation now, Yuu-chan… And I never thought that you had this much courage in you to declare a war… I knew that you had guts but not this much…but the bottom-line is, you did well, son…You saved everyone…" Shoma smiled.
"Yuu-chan I was not able to protect you! I'm so sorry… Oh Yuu-chan….Your Onii-chan is such a
Despicable person; he can't even protect his own little brother! I'm so sorry Yuu-chan…" Tears started to flow down from Shori's eyes
"Yuuri…Heika… I don't deserve to live…I failed to fulfill my duty to protect you, not only to Shin Makoku, but also my duty to my heart, your majesty…I can't assure you that there will never be another war after all this, but I am certain that I will never let any catastrophe befall Shin Makoku, Shin Makoku will rise again after this tragic downfall… No matter what happens, even after a new demon king arises, my loyalty is only to you, Yuuri…" Conrad held his right hand on his chest and bowed his head.
And last,
"Oh Yuuri!!!" Wolfram kneeled in front of the glass coffin and cried.
"You're such a wimp! You're the wimpiest person I've ever met!" Wolfram yelled to the dead body…
"You're a liar! Promising something that you won't fulfill! What do you call yourself?" Wolfram cried even harder.
And as for Yuuri seeing all this; he would rather be dead…well he is dead, but yet he can't escape from the pain striking through his heart. He couldn't bear to see everyone like this, especially, Wolfram.
'Wolfram… What are you crying about? I'm here, I'm always here… Wolfram I'm here!' Yuuri then tried to hold Wolfram's hand but it just went through! He was dead after all, of course that would go through!
'Wolfram! Stop it! Didn't you promise me that you will never cry for me ever again! Then what are you doing now? Wolfram.Why are you making me suffer like this? I can't stand seeing you like this…Wolfram, if only I could turn back time, I will change everything that had happened but I can't …' Yuuri cried together with Wolfram but the blond didn't even have any idea that he was there.
Then the young king felt someone touch his shoulder, "It's time to go, Yuuri…"
'What?'
Before he could even turn to see the mysterious man, everything disappeared. Or was it him who disappeared?
"Don't worry, 27th maou, everything's going to go just fine…"
--
Okay! that's chap 2! Ha-ha! I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who read, and reviewed! And also to those who added this story totheir "story alert", thanks for your appreciation!
Anyways, please continue to read and review! And of course, in your review, please try to guess of the next events...I just want to know if I'm that predictable or not...
Thanks again!